Soloed 1967, aviation provided an income for thirty years starting in 1981, twenty five years with the same corporate department of a Fortune 500 company. North, Central, and South America, Europe for the last eighteen years in Falcon 20, 50, 900's. Saw incredible sights and met wonderful people but I do not miss it as an occupation.

Soloed 1967, aviation provided an income for thirty years starting in 1981, twenty five years with the same corporate department of a Fortune 500 company. North, Central, and South America, Europe for the last eighteen years in Falcon 20, 50, 900's. Saw incredible sights and met wonderful people but I do not miss it as an occupation.

I finally booked in to start learning how to fly. Problem is, I am scared of flying. I have done larger jet aircraft for business, but cant do small aircraft. Next Wednesday, I start my training for my pilots licence. I am currently shitting my pants. I will overcome this totally irrational fear of aircraft, trust me!!

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“The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance but to overcome it”
― Lawrence M. Krauss

Last year, I got my helicopter license and sold off all our fixed wing goodies to buy a Hughes 500 and put a pad behind the house. Just waiting for it to get out of the paint shop and have new seat rails installed. Now it's a whole new world!

__________________Suppose you were an idiot...And suppose you were a member of Congress...But I repeat myself.

Last year, I got my helicopter license and sold off all our fixed wing goodies to buy a Hughes 500 and put a pad behind the house. Just waiting for it to get out of the paint shop and have new seat rails installed. Now it's a whole new world!

I am a late starter at 36.

I never intend on buying a plane, but its interesting looking around. You can buy a 1970's model Cessna 172 for AUD40000 which seems pretty cheap to me for a plane? Old but are they good? I know nothing about aircraft BTW. Am I setting a dangerous precedent for myself?

__________________
“The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance but to overcome it”
― Lawrence M. Krauss

As to whether they are good planes, it all depends on the maintenance history and competence of the mechanics. My 337 was a 1976 model and is just as solid/airworthy today as the day it rolled out of the factory. My father-in-law has a 1964 C172 that I wouldn't hesitate to fly across the country tomorrow.

Regarding owning -vs- renting, it just depends on how much you want to spend. For most recreational pilots, it usually makes more sense to join a club and just rent the plane you want to fly that day. Maintenance and insurance will make that "cheap" Cessna look pretty expensive when you look at the cost per flight hour.

__________________Suppose you were an idiot...And suppose you were a member of Congress...But I repeat myself.

As to whether they are good planes, it all depends on the maintenance history and competence of the mechanics. My 337 was a 1976 model and is just as solid/airworthy today as the day it rolled out of the factory. My father-in-law has a 1964 C172 that I wouldn't hesitate to fly across the country tomorrow.

Regarding owning -vs- renting, it just depends on how much you want to spend. For most recreational pilots, it usually makes more sense to join a club and just rent the plane you want to fly that day. Maintenance and insurance will make that "cheap" Cessna look pretty expensive when you look at the cost per flight hour.

Figured that would be the case. I will do this trial flight first, I will either never fly a small aircraft again or I will be hooked. Betch it will be the latter!

__________________
“The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance but to overcome it”
― Lawrence M. Krauss

Talked to a few ex pilots - most cannot afford it anymore - with avgas pushing $6/gallon, plus insurance, etc.

Here you can buy a good used airplane CHEAP, keeping it in the air? Shucks even 8 gallons an hour is $50 an hour fuel cost, plus maintainence reserves, etc.

I'm sorry to see light aviation as it is today. The truely dedicated remain flying but the compromises don't suit me.

Today you go to our local field, there are no aircraft tied outside in the G/A area, the big iron FBO is full of G5's and their ilk - corporate jets being ridden by our corporate masters. Wish I could talk the DEA into stationing a drug sniffing dog to check each of those planes on landing - we could make a bunch of money seizing those jets from the corporations - think of it as a tax...

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Never ascribe to Evil that which is more resonably explained by Ignorance and Stupidity

There's casting, then there's running into the stream with a baseball bat trying to club the fish to death. - Jim Moore

IMO flying a GA plane just isn't fun for very long. Sure, learning and the first dozen flights are fun but after that it gets routine and boring. If you've got a purpose in mind like flying to remote airstips in Idaho for fly fishing then a GA plane is useful. Otherwise it's nearly always better to travel by car or commercial aircraft.

I fly a PPC because it's cheap, safe, and much more fun than GA. No pilots license required.